A golden chaine: or The description of theologie containing the order of the causes of saluation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seene in the table annexed. Hereunto is adioyned the order which M. Theodore Beza vsed in comforting afflicted consciences.

The negatiue part.

Thou shalt not diminish or hurt the good name and estimation of thy neighbour.

Here is forbidden:

• I. Enuie, disdaine of others, desire of a mans owne glorie. 1. Tim. 6.4. He is puft vp, and knoweth nothing, but doteth about questions, and strife of words, whereof commeth enuie, strife, railings. 1. Pet. 2.1. Wherefore, laying aside all maliciousnes, and enuie and all guile, and euill speaking. Math. 21.15. But when the chiefe Priests and Scribes saw the marueiles that he did, and the children crying in the Temple, and saying, Hosanna the sonne of Dauid, they disdained.
• II. Euill suspicions. 1. Tim. 6.4. 1. Sam. 17.28. And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake vnto the men, and Eliab was angrie with Dauid, and said, Why camest thou downe hither? and with whome hast thou left those few sheepe in the wil∣dernesse? I know thy pride, and the malice of thine heart. Act. 28.4. Now when the Barbarians saw the worme hang on his hand; they said among themselues. This man surely is a murtherer, whom though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance hath not suffered to liue. Here are condemned, hard censures and sinister iudgements against our neighbour. Matth. 7. 1. Iudge not; that yee be not iudged. 2. For with what iudgement yee iudge, ye shall be iudged: and with what measure yee mete, it shall be measured to you againe. These iudgements which Christ forbiddeth, are priuate and reprochfull or slaunderous iudgements: namely, when either a good or an indifferent action is interpreted to the worse part: or

• when a light offence is made hainous through euill will, without all desire ei∣ther to amend, or to couer the same. Act. 2.13. And other mocked and saide, They are full of new wine. 14. But Peter standing with the eleuen, lift vp his voice, and said vnto them, Ye men of Iudea, and all ye that inhabite Ierusalem, be this knowne vnto you, and hearken vnto my words; 15. For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, since it is but the third houre of the day. 1. Sam. 1.13. For Hannah spake in her heart, her lips did mooue onely, but her voice was not heard, therfore Eli thought she had beene drunken. But we must know that there are three kinds of iudge∣ments which are not forbidden by this commandement of Christ. The first is, the ministerie of the Gospel, which iudgeth & reprooueth sinne. The secōd is, the iudgement of the Magistrate. The third is, the iudgement of a friend ad∣monishing vs: as when he saith, Abstaine from the companie of such a man, for I know him to be a drunkard, &c.
• III. A relation of the bare words onely, and not of the sense and meaning of our neighbour. Math. 26.59. Now the chiefe Priests, and the Elders, and all the whole Councell, sought false witnes against Iesus, to put him to death. 60. But they found none, and though many false witnesses came, yet found they none: but at the last came two false witnesses. 61. And said, This man saide, I can destroy the Temple of God, and build it in three daies. Indeede Christ saide some such thing in wordes, as appeareth, Ioh. 2.19. Iesus answered and said vnto them, Destroy this temple, and in three daies I will raise it vp againe.
• IV. A lie, whereby euery falshood with purpose to deceiue is signified, whether in wordes, or in deedes, or concealing the truth, or any other way whatsoeuer; be it for neuer so great a good to our neighbour.
• V. To pronounce vniust sentence in iudgement, to rest in one witnesse, to accuse another wrongfully, to bewray a mans cause by collusion. 1. King. 21.12. They proclaimed a fast, and set Nabaoth among the chiefe of the people. 13. And there came two wicked men, and sate before him, and the wicked men witnessed against Nabaoth in the presence of the people, saying, Nabaoth did blaspheme God and the King: then they caried him away out of the citie, and stoned him with stones that he died. Deut. 17.6. At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall he, that is worthie of death, die: but at the mouth of one witnesse he shall not die.
• VI. Openly to raise forged and hurtfull tales and reports of our neigh∣bour, or priuily to deuise the same. Rom. 1.29. Whisperers. 30. Backbiters, ha∣ters of God, proud, boasters, inuenters of euill things. Leuit. 19.16. Thou shalt not walke about with tales among thy people, thou shalt not stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lord. 1. Tim. 5.13. And likewise also beeing idle, they learne to goe about from house to house: yea, they are not onely idle, but also pratlers and busi∣bodies, speaking things which are not comely. To spread abroad flying tales, or to faine and adde any thing vnto them. Prou. 26.20. Without wood the fire is quen∣ched, and without a talebearer strife ceaseth. 21. As a coale maketh burning coales, and wood a fire, so the contentious man is apt to kindle strife. 22. The wordes of a talebearer are as flatterings, and they goe downe into the bowels of the belly. 2. Cor. 12.20. For I feare least when I come, I shall not finde you such as I would, and that I shall be found to you such as I would not, and least there be strife, enuying, wrath, con∣tentions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, and discord among you. To receiue or

• beleeue those tales which we heare of others. Exod. 23.1. Thou shalt not re∣ceiue a false tale, neither shalt thou put thine hand with the wicked, to be a false wit∣nesse. 1. Sam. 24.10. And Dauid said to Saul, Wherefore giuest thou an eare to mens wordes, that say, Behold, Dauid seeketh euill against thee?
• VII. To accuse our neighbour, for that which is certaine & true, through hatred, and with intent to hurt him. 1. Sam. 22.9. Then answered Doeg the Edo∣mit•• (who was appointed ouer the seruants of Saul) and said, I saw the sonne of Ishai when he came to Nob, to Abimelech the sonne of Ahitub, 10. Who asked counsell of the Lord for him, and gaue him victualls, and he gaue him also the sword of Goli∣ah the Philistim. Of this deede Dauid thus speaketh. Psal. 52.1. Why boastest thou thy selfe in thy wickednesse, O man of power? the louing kindnesse of the Lord endureth for euer. 2. Thy tongue imagineth mischeife, and is like a sharpe rasor, that cutteth deceitfully. 3. Thou doest loue euill more then good: and lies, more then to speake the trueth. 4. Thou louest all wordes that may destroy, O deceitfull tongue.
• VIII. To open or declare our neighbours secret to any man, especially, if he did it of infirmitie. Mat. 18.15. Moreouer, if thy brother trespasse against thee, goe and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he heare thee, thou hast wonne thy brother. Pro. 11.13. He that goeth about as a slanderer, discouereth a se∣cret: but he that is of a faithfull heart, concealeth a matter.
• ...

  IX. All babling talke and bitter wordes. Eph. 5.3. But fornication and all vn∣cleannesse, let it not be once named among you. 4. Neither filthinesse, neither foolish talking, neither iesting, which are not comely, but rather giuing of thankes. Ioh. 9.34. They answered and said vnto him, Thou art altogither borne in sinnes, and doest thou teach vs? so they cast him out. This iesting, or as it is nowe tearmed, wit, which Aristotle the Philosopher maketh a vertue, is by Paul the Apostle ac∣counted a vice: and that not without cause; I. Such quipps as sting others, though they be a great pleasure for some to heare, yet are they very offensiue to such as are so girded. II. It is very hard to make Christian both godlinesse and grauity to agree with such behauiour.

  Obiect. But salt and tart speeches are vsull in the scriptures, 1. King. 18. 27. Eliah mocked the Priests of Baal. Esa. 14.9. Answer. Such speeches are not spoken to please others, but are sharply deuounced against Gods enemies to his glorie.

• X. Flatterie, whereby we praise our neighbour aboue that, we knowe in him. Prou. 27.6. The woundes of a louer, are faithfull, but the kisses of an enemie are to be shunned. 14. He that praiseth his friende with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted to him as a curse. Act. 12.22. And the people gaue a shout, saying, The voice of God, and not of man. This is a grieuous sinne in the mi∣nisters of the word. 1. Thess. 2.5. Neither did we euer vse flattering wordes, as ye knowe, nor coloured couetousnesse, God is record. Ier. 6.13. For from the least of thē, euen vnto the greatest of them, euery one is giuen vnto couetousnesse, and from the Prophet, euen vnto the priest, they all deale falsely. 14. They haue healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people with sweete wordes, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace. Rom. 16.18. For they that are such, serue not the Lord Iesus Christ, but their owne bellies, and with faire speech and flattering, deceiue the hearts of the simple.

• XI. Foolish and ouer confident boasting. Prou. 27.1. Boast not thy selfe of to morrow, for thou knowest not what a daie may bring forth. 2. Let another praise thee, and not thine owne mouth, a stranger and not thine owne lips.
• XII. To accuse, or witnesse against one falsely. 1. King. 21.13. Naboth blas∣phemed God and the king.